I was forced to cultivate immortality when I just wanted to lie down

Chapter 413 The flowing water has returned, and the lonely mountain has collapsed on its own.

As the twelfth lunar month approached, Tianjin, already bustling, became even more noisy than usual.

You could run into a shop selling New Year pictures, firecrackers, and peach charms every few steps along the street.

As the year draws to a close, annual parties naturally become grander and grander.

The people of Tianjin love lively places, and at this time of year, everyone likes to go to crowded places.

Today, in front of the City God Temple.

The Liyuan Opera House held a public benefit performance, and many ordinary people rushed to listen to the opera.

In the past, there were many people who came to watch the opera, but none were as crowded as today. It seems that the entire city of Linjiang has been attracted here!
An uninformed passerby asked, "What's so interesting about this play? It's just the same few scenes over and over again?"

"What do you know! There are only a few plays, but it depends on who's performing them!"

A young rascal, playing with walnuts in one hand and carrying a birdcage in the other, explained: "In the past hundred years in Tianjin, there have only been three most popular establishments. Can you guess who they are?"

The young rascal recounted with great familiarity: "One was the fleeting beauty Sai Yuxian, but unfortunately, this star only left behind one song, 'The Meeting at the Pavilion,' before being killed by her unfaithful husband. What a pity!"

"The second one is Liu Su'e, the owner of the Pear Garden Opera House seventy years ago."

"When Boss Liu opens her voice, it's like Kunlun jade shattering and a phoenix crying, a lotus weeping with dew and an orchid smiling! In the entire Great Yan, you won't find a singer who can sing better than her!"

“Works like ‘The Infant Protector’, ‘The Matchmaker’, and ‘The Dragon King’s Daughter’ are all Liu’s most famous works.”

"It's a pity that Boss Liu retired twenty years ago, and passed away peacefully ten years later. Having never married, Boss Liu left behind only an adopted daughter to carry on his legacy."

Seeing that the young man in front of them spoke so knowledgeably, the people around couldn't help but ask, "There are only two famous actors, who is the other one?"

The young rascal paused in his hand, which was holding walnuts, and said with a smile, "There is another one, Xu, the embroiderer, who specializes in singing ghost plays in the funeral industry in Tianjin. She is known in the martial arts world as Rouge Tiger and Ghost Bride. She can play any role, whether it is a tragic female role or a female warrior role, with ease! Especially her ghost plays, she sings them so well that they are truly heart-wrenching and plaintive, as if real ghosts have appeared."

"It's a pity that these are all people from decades ago. Now that they're gone, no one in Tianjin can support this small stage anymore."

At this point, the young rascal suddenly became radiant and said, "However, new talents emerge in every generation. Boss Liu's adopted daughter, Liu Qingyi, has now sung with ten times the power that Boss Liu used back then. She has truly inherited his skills!"

"Otherwise, the charity performances at the theater these past few days wouldn't have been so successful."

Nearby, an elderly man from Linjiang City asked suspiciously, "You're so old, how could you have heard the opera sung by the star performer back then?"

The young rascal chuckled and said, "I'm not exaggerating. Although I never saw the stars back then, my grandfather often told me about their exploits. I heard a lot from my grandfather, so I naturally know a lot."

The old man looked the playful fellow walking his bird and playing with walnuts up and down. He looked somewhat familiar, but he just couldn't remember who it was.

“I have lived for over fifty years, and there is no one in Linjiang City that I do not know. Tell me what your grandfather’s name was; I might even know him.”

The young rascal smiled, didn't answer, and instead turned around, carrying the birdcage, and headed towards the stage.

By this time, most of the plays in the theater had already been performed, and the next act would be the grand finale, a special performance by Liu Qingyi.

The young rascals took advantage of the busiest time, when there were the most people, to go on stage.

Everyone looked at the young man who put down the birdcage and bowed to the surroundings, and felt that he looked strangely familiar.

"Whose young man is this? He's really handsome!"

"Not only is he handsome, but he also looks familiar."

With his bones merging and circulating, Xu Qing, having transcended the stage of "unyielding bones" and entered the "flying zombie" stage, was vastly different from before. This difference was not only reflected in his realm and cultivation, but also in his appearance.

The corpse-driving craftsman who once had a stiff face and a gloomy aura has now passed through middle age and old age, returned to youth, and has undergone a complete transformation. His spiritual appearance, nurtured by a thousand years of cultivation, is naturally different from what it was back then.

However, no matter how different they are, their bone structure and facial features will not change much.

Xu Qing, with a youthful face, revealed a familiar smile reminiscent of Yan Guilai, and cupped his hands in greeting:
"My surname is Xu, and my given name is Xuan. I am the new manager of the coroner's shop on Jingxia Street. The old manager of Xu's Funeral Home, Xu Qing, was my grandfather."

"Today, as I inherit my family business, I have specially invited a charity performance by the opera house as a celebration for the opening!"

"Anyone who comes to my Jingxia Street to handle funeral business before the first month of the lunar calendar will receive a 50% discount. In addition, there is a special event to give back to our fellow villagers: every day at 7:00 AM, eggs, rice and noodles will be given away for free in front of the mortuary. Quantities are limited, first come, first served!"

I remember now! I remember everything!
The Tianjin locals who came to watch the play were immediately reminded of the days when they were dominated by Xu Zhanggui's overwhelming funeral advertisements.

How can they possibly survive?

In other words, on such a big holiday, are they trying to kill us?

Everyone thought that after the inhuman Xu Qing was taken away by God, Tianjin would be able to live a peaceful life. Who would have thought that before the year was over, only two or three months later, Xu Qing's grandson Xu Xuan appeared!
That's not the worst part; what's even more deadly is that the young shopkeeper Xu in front of us seems to have inherited Old Xu's true teachings, and he's even more inhuman than Old Xu!
At least Old Xu wouldn't hold charity performances for opera troupes during holidays to lure people in and then kill them.

Unlike Xu Xuan, who completely disregards etiquette and the law.

What I'm saying is, isn't anyone going to do anything about him?

The people who had been controlled by Xu Qing were filled with hatred and secretly wished that the officials would throw Xu's descendants into jail and keep them there until after the New Year.
Perhaps the public's grievances were so intense that they moved heaven and earth, for a group of yamen runners actually crowded in front of the stage and surrounded Old Xu's grandson.

The head constable was Zhao Yuan's grandson, who, according to seniority, should address Zhao Zhonghe as "Grandpa."

Upon seeing Xu Xuan, Zhao Ping, the head constable of Linjiang, was visibly delighted. He stepped forward, took Xu Qing's arm, and said, "We brothers are destined to be together."

Xu Qing then asked, "How is this fate?"

Zhao Ping chuckled and said, "Your grandfather and my grandfather were old acquaintances, and he even had a life-or-death friendship with my uncle. Your grandfather even held me in his arms back then!"

Xu Qing looked at the eight-foot-tall man in front of him, who had indeed inherited the genes of the Zhao family. However, he clearly remembered that he had never hugged Zhao Ping; he had only hugged Zhao Ping's father, Zhao Wenxing.

However, one shouldn't hit a smiling face, so Xu Qing cheerfully called out to Zhao Ping, "Brother Zhao."

To be fair, the Zhao family members are all quite sentimental and loyal. Xu Qingjue thought that perhaps one day when he had time, he could bring the Yinhe Xuantan Zhenjun to the mortal world so that he could meet his great-nephew and have a chat.

Then Zhao Ping will call his great-uncle "little brother," how heartwarming that would be!
Zhao Ping was overjoyed to hear Xu Qing call him brother, but his joy was short-lived. He heard his new acquaintance say, "Brother Zhao, you have many connections and know a lot of people. I'm counting on you to introduce me to more customers in the future. I just took over this shop and we're short of customers."

"Easy to say, easy to say."

Zhao Ping chuckled awkwardly, not daring to actually agree.

Beneath the stage, public resentment intensified.

This is clearly collusion between officials and businessmen, and it's blatant collusion at that!
On the stage, Xu Qing unfurled a red banner with white lettering that had been prepared in advance. The banner read, "Wu Gong Shop's New Year Grand Sale, 50% Off Everything," and it was extremely eye-catching.

Normally, this unlucky banner alone would have driven away most of the onlookers, but things are different now.

Liu Qingyi's fame was so great that even the storytellers in the teahouse said that the new leading lady of the opera was a once-in-a-millennium top performer.

As long as I can hear the so-called thousand-year-old opera sounds, it's worth it even if I get some bad luck!

Backstage, Xu Qing looked at Liu Su'e, who was wearing female dan makeup, and laughed, "Boss Liu, you won't be singing that mourning for your deceased husband play again today, will you?" Earlier, when Xu Qing was being buried, the disciples of the Funeral Clan specially arranged a day and night of funeral opera performances for him. At that time, Liu Su'e was in full theatrical form and sang the plays of Yu Ji mourning the King of Chu and the Tears of the Wilderness to perfection!
That play brought tears to countless people's eyes; those unaware of the story might have thought the deceased Shopkeeper Xu was someone related to the female lead on stage.

Unfortunately, Liu Su'e was not Master Yizhen. After hearing Xu Qing's teasing words, Boss Liu not only did not feel ashamed, but instead stepped forward and asked with burning eyes, "Since you say that you are the deceased husband, then who is the deceased wife?"

"."

Seeing that Xu Qing remained silent, Liu Su'e turned back and chuckled, saying, "Today we won't sing the play about crying for a deceased husband; if we're going to sing, we'll sing the play about weaving silk."

The play "Puppet Show" is a play about matchmakers. After Liu Su'e finished speaking, she didn't forget to throw her water sleeves at Xu Qing, as if she regarded the sleeves as the red thread connecting them.

Xu Qing reacted quickly, grabbing the long, flowing sleeve and pulling the person at the other end of it.

Liu Su'e exclaimed in surprise, and before she knew it, she was already in front of the sect leader.

Xu Qing looked at the tense Boss Liu and grinned, "If you continue to be so disrespectful, I'll send you to the Five Elders Temple and make you a Taoist nun for life, keeping the precepts for life!"

Liu Su'e broke free, took a few steps back, and stared at Xu Qing with wide eyes.

"As expected of the sect leader!"

"."

Which bite? Explain yourself!

Xu Qing frowned, but before she could ask a question, she saw Boss Liu say with a gentle look in her eyes, "However, if you like it, it is not impossible for me to become a nun."

After saying this, Liu Su'e smiled, raised her water sleeves with both hands, and floated towards the stage with light, dainty steps.

Xu Qing shook his head. This Boss Liu was quite the drama queen; his words were even more outrageous than those of the fox from Qingqiu.

After leaving the backstage area of ​​the opera troupe, Xu Qing turned back along the street. He hadn't gone far when he saw a figure standing in front of the incense and candle workshop.

The incense and candle workshop was on the only way through Jingxia Street. Xu Qing looked at the old figure and was about to step forward when he saw the person turn away in a panic.

However, due to old age and frailty, the other party could only walk unsteadily into the workshop.

"Hurry and help me back!"

The maidservant who was responsible for helping and taking care of her was confused and could only follow the old lady's instructions to try to walk back.

Not far away, Xu Qing gazed thoughtfully at the figures in front of the incense and candle workshop.

Back on Jingxia Street, Xu Qing casually mentioned to Xuan Yu what he had seen and heard in front of the incense and candle workshop.

Xuan Yu stared at Xu Qing for a moment and said, "Xu Xianjia is not smart! Xu Xuan is Xu Qing in his youth, but Wang Xiaomei is not Wang Xiaomei in her youth."

"Xu Xianjia doesn't understand the thoughts of mortals."

Seeing that Xu Qing remained silent, Xuan Yu changed the subject and said, "This morning, a Taoist priest surnamed Zhang from Santai Peak came to pay his respects. Since Master Xu was not home, he left a message saying that he was staying temporarily at Wanbao Inn."

"Santai Peak? It's most likely Zhang Shufang's master, Zhang Pingsheng, that Zhengyi Daoist."

Xuan Yu recognized the new Celestial Master of the Celestial Master's Mansion. A few months ago, when Xu Qing was being buried, the Celestial Master and a group of monks performed a ritual to help Xu Qing's family pass on to the afterlife.

"Is Xu Xian going to Wanbao Inn?"

Seeing Xu Qing get up and walk out of the shop, Xuan Yu casually asked.

"Why would I look for him? He's a Nascent Soul cultivator whose lifespan is longer than a tortoise's; I'm not in a hurry to find him."

Xu Qing said leisurely:
"I'm going to the incense and candle workshop to see an old friend."

Xuan Yu stared at Xu Qing, its tail flicking slightly, seemingly lost in thought.

As Xu Xianjia's figure disappeared through the shop entrance, the cat on the counter suddenly transformed into human form and muttered something:
"Not too stupid."

In the incense and candle workshop, a beautiful woman in her twilight years was gazing up at a painting of Lonely Mountain that she had drawn herself decades ago, lost in thought.

A young man had appeared at the entrance without anyone noticing.

The young man gazed at the painting hanging on the wall and asked, "What is this painting? Why are you so fascinated by it?"

Familiar voice, familiar smiling face.

Wang Yue'e trembled, her eyes filled with fear and helplessness.

No daughter is immune to vanity, especially when it comes to someone she cares about.

But by this time, Wang's younger sister had become a faded beauty with graying temples, while the person in front of her remained as youthful as ever. How could she possibly cope with this?

"Since you have already passed away, why bother coming to find me?"

Xu Qing did not answer Wang Yue'e's question. He walked to the painting, which depicted flowing water and towering mountains, but it appeared exceptionally lonely.

On one side of the painting, there is a short poem written in delicate, small characters:
Your heart is like flowing water, while my heart is like a lonely mountain.

Even a solitary mountain can be felled, but when will the flowing water return?
"."

Xu Qing was speechless.

"Sir, please don't overthink it. I was just young and ignorant when I wrote this poem, and it didn't have any profound meaning."

Xu Qing gazed at the painting and suddenly sighed:
"Beauty is like poetry, rivers are like infatuation, beauty is unbearable and only longing remains, distance cannot compensate for the deep sorrow."

The poem originally had a second part, which reads: "The hardest thing to bear is the favor of a beautiful woman, her alluring gaze most captivating. Though the lotus root is broken, its threads still connect; a sigh for the many changes in the world."
Xu Qing took out a drop of Three Lives Stone Dew and said, "If you take this stone dew, you will remember the memories of three lifetimes in your next life. If you are not afraid of the difficulties of cultivation and the rarity of opportunities, then take this stone dew."

"but."

Xu Qing said earnestly, "Cultivation is like a solitary mountain and flowing water. If you really want to embark on cultivation, everything in the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion will have nothing to do with you."

However, just as Xu Qing finished speaking, he saw the 'eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo' swallow the stone dew whole.

"Since it is a solitary mountain, there is no other thought."

Finally, Xu Qing heard the old lady say:
"However, there is something Yue'e must tell you in advance, sir—"

"The flowing water has returned today, so one day the lonely mountain will collapse on its own."

"."

That was a straight shot.
Xu Qing always felt that his coroner's shop would catch fire one day.

(End of this chapter)